RADIUM APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 58, 3 December 1923, Page 7

RADIUM APPEAL

WANGANUI DOCTORS APPROVE CENTRALISATION NEEDED DISTRIBUTION FROM , WELLINGTON The following important statement bv Wanganui medical practitioners was before the last meeting of thfe Radium (Radiation) Appeal Committee: — “The medical professon of Wanganui is in whole-hearted support of the campaign to obtain a sufficient supply of radium and to provide a radium department for the treatment of cases of cancer from the Wellington provincial district. The increase in the number of cases of this disease is a matter of grave concern.” After noting statistics, the Wanganui medical practitioners continue: — “A vary large amount of unnecessary suffering results from the ignorance of the public. The essence of the treatment of cancer is early recognition. Cancer in its early stages can be completely and finally removed by surgical means. Early cancer is not painful; to wait for nain is to wait for death. All over the world the medical profession is taking steps to educate ttie public in these and other matters in connection with the canter problem. .We feel that in coniunction with this campaign to raise money for the purchase of radium, there should go newspaper or other propaganda designed to ensure more early and successful treatment of this disease.” Value of Radium and Emanation, The value of radium treatment is set out bv tlie Wanganui medical men in the following pertinent passage: “It has now lieen well established that radium affords extremely useful means of relief in the later and most terrible stages of many forms of cancer, particularly those ■which attack women. Further, in many cases ■where cancerous growths have lieen recognised at an early period of their development, radium mav replace a surgical operation and bring about complete arrest. The application of radium is painless, in many cases not even requiring . an anaesthetic for its introduction into the growth, and mav obviate a severe and distressing operation.” The Wanganui profession devotes attention to the gas (emanation) that radium gives off. Emanations may be collected and distributed by post to anv locality where thev mav be used within twelve or sixteen . hours of their preparation. The original radium is everlasting, and mav not only be used itself over and over again, but suffers no loss bv the collection of its emanations. Patilents who cannot make the iouroev to Wellington mav be treated locally bv emanation. Me are assured that if the money asked for is subscribed, the necessary plant will be installed, and radium emanation will be available for Wanganui residents.” The Dunedin Pilgrimage. A tribute is paid to the work of radium at the Dunedin Hospital, but the lonv and exhausting iourney—particularly to those who are seriously ill —and the extra expense, make the provision of radium treatment withm easy distance an urgent necessity. We realise that centralisation is necossnrv. and are satisfied that the nropcr place for a radium department is at tho Wellington Hospital, under the care of an expert professional man. “We think that it should be madte perfectly clear bv the central committee that this radium department when set up shall be freely .available to all sufferers from the territory over which the money mav have been and that the Wellington Si';-' ing the campaign to obtain radium, w offer our heartiest co-operation and confidently commend the appeal to io general public of tho Wanganui dis+rA+ non-discrimination pronouncement has already been made bv tho adlU "f (Radiation) Appeal . C "? in VMnh,gton which the chairman of the W InTthc Hospital Board (Mr F Castle) am] the medical superintendent of hosp (Dr D AL Wilson) are members. Ihe committee lavs tients will stand on the same iootin , so far as the. radium department is concerned, as city patients. Christchurch Doctor's Support. A Press Association report of t.e proceedings of tlie Christchurch Hospital Board, published last Dinted. Jb Lune before the. last meeting, Radium (Radiation) Appeal Commivtee Tim report stated that the, board was buying appliances . foi radium treatment, but was tiying ne£ , o . the expense of buying radium hy tiating with the Dunedin Hospita Board for a supply of emanation. Mr. F. Castle, chairman, of tne Wellington Hospital Board, told the committee that while the Christchurch Hospital Board might appear to some extent to be wobbling, owing; to one Christchurch doctor holding an opin ion contrary to the the medical opinion, he I Mr . Castle would quote to the meeting the real opinion of the honorary staff of Christ church Hospital, which had P r€SC ’ lte . (l a report on a proposed radium dopa merit last July. This report set the hall rolling in Christchurch before thp Wellington Hospital Board thoug taking action, and it would be ioun IS the line’s that Wellington had since followed were really tl,c . the Christchurch honorary stall s re P °ln tho course of the report quoted bv Mr. Castle the honorary stall of Christchurch Hospital clearly stated that radium “has proved a valuable adjunct in the treatment of eancer. and that “radium treatment should be available in each of the four centres. DONATIONS TO DATE The secretary of the Radium (Radiation) Appeal Committee, forwards the following list of subscriptions, which raise the total by something over £5OO, of which £2lO is accounted for by the soldier who has donated a Lyall Bay section, and who prefers to bo known as “A Digger.” Die total subscription is now nearly S2UIKI, which is considerably less . than tho promoters expected at this stage of the campaign. Already acknowledged, £1412 145.. Ba. “A Dinger,” section valued at £2lO. Airs, jacob Joseph and Miss R. M. Joseph, £52 10s each. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hall, £2o. “Anonymous,” H. Hume, and Ellis and Manton. £2O each. S. S. Williams, £lO 10s. Win. Weir and Fred J. Cowper (Dannevirkp), £lO each. S. G. Radford, “C.G.P.,” Webb, Richmond, and Cornish, Airs. A. Clachan Henry Hughes, Ltd., James Amos, £5 ss. each. Glover- Misa M. Maclean (Na-

pier), D. S. MacGregor (Pemberton), W. F. Barraud, £5 each. Arthui Janies, £3 3s. Employees of Messrs. Samuels and Kelly 1 (second weekly contribution), £3 6s. 9d. . T Mrs. and Miss A. AL I'oster, A. J. Rutherford (Alfredton), £3-each. R. H. Jenkins, Misses Bany and Shakes, G. N. Bringham, 11. A. Lambo and Co. (Mataroa), Miss E. Beere, £2 F 2 W. e H. ll ßeanisih (Hastinggs), F. B Lomin, A. Gilbert (Nelson). Brandon and Smith, “X.Y.Z.,” Mrs. H. Beere, M. E. Turrell. £1 Is. each. D. Larcen, “X.Y.Z.,” Arthur Holgroyd (Napier), 11. Pettit, Miss A . A. Turton, A. G. Parkin (Uukanui), Airs AV. J. Anderson, “Typo’,’ (third instillment), £1 each. “Aliss 8.,” “Shoes.” “Sympathiser. G. C. Moon, and .1. Thorn, 10s. each. Kwoin and Co., “A Friend,” 1. HColtman, Airs. Cruickshank, Anss Reeves, “A Sufferer,” ss. each. “A Friend,” “A Friend,” 2s. Cd. each. Total promises and donations to Friday, November 30, £1933 10s. 3d.